Lazy Links

This was a rough week - frantic, tiring, and full of black clouds of gnats. Quite literally. So let's take a leisurely stroll 'round some lovely little things, and unwind for a quiet weekend. Don't forget to stop in at the comments and say hello! Tell us which literary hotel is your favorite. Do you take a good picture? Are you liberal or stingy with the SPF? More importantly, do you think if I bring a little appreciation card and a princess cake around to Florence Welch's house, she'll let me live there? Let's discuss below...

• An extremely useful and frighteningly detailed guide on how to apply mascara correctly.Unfortunately, it doesn't cover the old poke-yourself-in-eye-with-wand step which I can't seem to skip.

• Have a look around Florence Welch's gorgeous house. She is just the coolest, and so are her bookshelves.

• The lovely Garance Dore shares seven ways you can look better in photos. None of them work for me, but maybe you'll have more luck.

• Look at this fabulous list of literary hotels! I think I'll plan a little weekend at Thornfield Hall one of these days. Obviously doing a quick attic check first.

• Diptyque has come out with a jonquille candle, and I must have it. I go crazy for jonquil. Jonquil are kind of like narcissus, right? Narcissi? Oh never mind.

• This Swedish princess cake looks divine. I want it, and I want it now.

• This poor woman's body lotion set off airport security. If that's not an incentive to start buying greener, I don't know what is.

• The ever fabulous Beautymouth takes us through some idiot-proof SPF rules - timely, because the only time I ever burn is in the springtime. Thin air + strong sunlight = lobster shoulders and freckle moustaches.

• Aren't these random notes of appreciation adorable? Let's all stock up, and hand them out with gusto.

Bluebell Time

I've spent far, far too much time this week browsing through these incredible posters at the London Transport Museum website. My favorites are the stylish, 1930's ads to promote parks and gardens, and getting people out of the city for a spot of fresh air. Of course bluebell season is my favorite, but there's also beautiful crocus and daffodil prints, all with that gorgeous Art Deco-feel about them that's absolutely my cup of tea.  I've already picked out about a dozen that are going to look absolutely smashing in my fantasy manor house. Until then, I think I'm going to go with the top one for my little cottage's bedroom wall - a little reminder of fragrant spring even on the greyest of days.

Check out rest of the beautiful collection of prints here - everything from blackout warnings to football match posters are rendered into beautiful works of art. Which is your favorite? And on a more abstract note, why oh why don't people make things this pretty anymore?

Spring Staple: Mint Nails

Isn't it nice when a really fabulous color is having a moment? I might not have been able to muster up much enthusiasm had 2013 seen a resurgence of maroon or pepto-bismol pink, but I'm quite happy to jump on the bandwagon for a cool, creamy customer like  this year's ubiquitous mint green. Anyone who loves the shade is in luck, as there's an absolute avalanche of accessories out there right now - from watches and Wayfarers to chunky sweaters and flirty skirts - all in that perfect icy hue.

So where better to add a little minty kick than fingers? The right shade adds a fresh, fun touch that's still subtle and flattering on skin, and looks a bit more laid-back and tomboyish than some of this season's more saccharine pastels. Every polish brand under the sun has a shade or two in their lineup this year, but the hands down winner here is Butter London's Fiver. Somewhere between an creamy spearmint green and a pale Tiffany blue, it's a stunner for its perfect hue and fabulous formula - thinner and quicker drying than most, which makes application a breeze for those of us less than gifted in the nail art department and more than a little chunky and unwieldy in our finger areas. And the whole non-toxic thing doesn't hurt its case either - wave goodbye to formaldehyde fingers and hello to healthier, stronger nails.

So how do you like a spot of refreshing mint on nails? Does the color remind you fondly your 80's childhood as well? Do you think chocolate only exists as an accompaniment to mint, and find yourself adding peppermint extract to inappropriate dishes? No, wait, that's me. Discuss below!

photo via Pinterest...

Gorgeous Getaway - Jollydays Glamorous Tents

 

 

Welcome to Jollydays, the ultimate glamping experience, and probably the closest you'll ever get to a magical tent in this boringly muggle world. Set in a pristine 200 acre forest in North Yorkshire, the divinely decorated luxury tents are sprinkled throughout the fairytale wood, their simple exteriors giving no hint to the incredible space and comfort within. Beautiful big-top draped ceilings hide bedrooms with plush four poster beds, clawfoot tubs complete with plentiful, piping hot water and spacious living areas for general lounging about.

 

For sustenance, wander down to the local organic farm store for ingredients, or avoid cooking altogether by ordering in a "dinner pot", a beautifully prepared, locally-grown meal left on your doorstep. Need a little snack and warming brew during a long day of forest tramping? Instead of a lobby, Jollydays has an adorable  "tea tent" serving hot tea and creamy cakes throughout the day.

 

I suggest exploring the nearby river Derwent (Otters!), visiting the adjoining ancient battlefield (ghost stories!) and finishing the day with a long, hot bath and drinks by candlelight. Peace and quiet, the sweet smell of the forest, stars at night and birdsong in the morning. Muggles or not, it's sure to be a perfectly magical weekend...

 



Spring Staple: The Fuschia Lip

Ready for a little makeup bag spring cleaning? Now's the perfect time to toss out those dusty old formulas and breathe a little new life into your look...

First on my spring staple list is the perfect fuschia lipstick - in particular the creamy, semi-matte NARS Funny Face. It looks like such a bright, punchy color in the tube, but something about this particular hue makes it completely wearable and fresh, much more youthful and casual than the classic, slightly stuffy red. The formula is incredible - soft and velvety, but shockingly long lasting, with no bleeding or feathering to speak of. Just lush, rich pigment and hydrated lips. And though I've seen it flatter a myriad of skintones and colorings, I must say it looks particularly brilliant with green eyes. For the record, I'm terrified of bright lippies - I live in fear of the deranged clown look - so if I can wear this and feel good about it, anyone can.

Just add clean, dewy skin, fluttery lashes and voila -  the perfect antidote to this cold, ever hesitant spring.

Has a lip color ever suprised you with it's wearability? Are you feeling the fuschia lip trend? Tell me all about it below!

Friday Frock - Dinner Pajamas Edition

I had most incredible paper dolls when I was little - booklets and booklets full of 1930's and 40's couture and the impeccably cataloged movie wardrobes of silver screen starlets.  Vivien Leigh, and Grace Kelly were my favorites - I had Jeanette McDonald for a while, but her head was ripped off in an unfortunate windowsill accident. Twenty years later, I still have them all somewhere in a box, well-worn and frayed and very much loved. Which all brings us, in a roundabout way, to today's frock - which is of course, no such thing. It's a dreaded jumpsuit. Which is neither shirt nor pants, so in my mind must be filed under frocks.  Before you make hasty judgments and horrified faces at the word "onesie", hear me out....

One of those aforementioned paper dolls, contained, I believe, in the "Fashions of the Forties" booklet, was a flowing, midnight blue confection with a candy pink sash. It was titled, simply,  "Dinner Pajamas". I was incredibly taken with this idea as a child - a life so glamorous and hedonistic that you would dress in an opulent form of loungewear for entertaining and cocktails. You can spot the look in some old movies - usually paired with a cigarette holder and plushly carpeted Hollywood bungalows. I dressed Vivien and Grace in the ensemble constantly, and was heartbroken to learn that I was unlikely to find a similar look for an eight year old in an early nineties shopping mall.

And so this was the first thing that sprung to my mind when I saw this stylish getup in the latest Anthropologie catalog - Dinner Pajamas! Finally! To be donned upon arrival home after work - and much more sartorially acceptable than your terry sweats. You can look fabulous while answering the door or having friends over for drinks or desert - my usual evening meal - and yet still safely play the pajama card when asked to do something on your Friday night. "I would love to come out, but I'm already in my pajamas. Sorry." Though you know you're not sorry at all. 

So not a dreaded jumpsuit at all in fact. A new way of life. To be paired with posh platforms,  chunky gold jewelry, and a languorous expression.

Gorgeous Getaway - Balleswidden Cabin, Cornwall

I love luxury as much as the next person, and there's certainly a time and a place for unbridled opulence. But sometimes, I just want to get away from everything and everyone. Escape from the entire world and hole up somewhere simple, beautiful and lonely with a stack of books and a good view. This weeks gorgeous getaway looks like my idea of heaven for a bit of peace and quiet. 

I really love Cornwall - I've written about it before and I'm sure I'll write about it again. This lovely little cottage near Penzance looks simple and unassuming at first glance, but it's deceptively spacious inside, and fitted with every luxury you could need for a quiet weekend. Cozy bedroom under the eaves, clawfoot tub, walls of well worn books and that invitingly worn red chesterfield.  Full of character, but not too pokey -  I particularly love how the floorboards were swept up on the beach from an old shipwreck. Unless they're haunted by the souls of dead sailors, who  cause them to creak at night. Maybe I'm not so keen on them after all. But no matter, there's so much else going for it - a hamper of delicious local food on arrival, a pleasant 20 minute walk to the village and the coast, and an awe-inspiring view across the wild fields that lead down to the sea. I think it's particularly perfect for dog lovers like myself - you can take Fido for long tramps across the countryside and bracing beach swims, before trundling home to curl up by the fire.  I would suggest you stock up on supplies - involving a lot of sweets, fashion mags and bubble baths - and eat and sleep your way through a gloriously quiet weekend.

Seven Days, Seven Ways...

I don't know about you, but my hair is stuck in a terrible rut, and I've had enough of it. I'm over at She Said Beauty today with a challenge for us straight-haired girls - seven days of easy, quick styles that even the most inept stylist (that's me) can manage. Head on over and find some inspiration for even the most tired, boring locks - and go on, I challenge you - try one for every day this week!

Lazy Links

Enjoying the Olympics sweetie darlings? Have you made a pledge to start on a new fitness routine and bought new snazzy workout clothe,s which will be worn twice and then consigned to the back of a drawer until Rio 2016? Yup, us too. Take a break from planning your podium face and gold medal wave with a little wander 'round our favorite stories this week....

Beautymouth's brilliant guide to idiot-proof skincare. Basically, stop obsessing over your pores and for god's sakes don't scrub your face with walnuts. 

While we do not share Western Europe's obsession with cycling - (except when they crash, which perversely adore,) we will take one of these fabulous posters.

Let's see what New Yorkers are reading on the subway....

BBC has an online test to see what kind of Olympian you would be according to your body type. It's not very accurate, because we got marathon runner. Ahahhahha. No.

Harvey Nic's and Penhaligon's have teamed up to create the Peoneve Terrace, a magical little secret garden full of pink peonies and sweet treats . If you're in London this summer, stop in for a gooseberry fool and peony punch served in a perfume bottle. Our kind of place.

Will and Kate seem to be having an adorably grand time at the games. We think they enjoy spending time around people their own age.

Some genius has invented a Facebook app that replaces pictures of other people's babies with cute animals. 

The most fantastic story of the week - apparently Kate Moss got in a spat with Gwyneth Paltrow as a result of throwing cheese puffs at her as she jogged by. And we didn't think we could love her anymore than we already did....

We would give our left arms right now for a slice of this Rose Pistachio Cake. This is what happens when you try to eat healthy and skip desert. You end up cruising the internet looking at cake porn.

Photo via Pinterest

Friday Frock

This week's frock is such a charmer. The perfect juicy mango hue, with Grecian details that you know I can't resist.  It's fun, fresh, bright and charming, with an unusual but flattering silhouette - midi in front, maxi (and party) behind. It looks like it would swing becomingly when you walked. What more can you ask? I feel like life would take on more carnival atmosphere every time you wore this Which incidentally, is exactly where I would wear it - a gaudy country carnival, lights strung across flapping tents, an air of mystery in the air and the taste of cotton candy on the lips. 


Do you love this color as much as we do? Have you been to a carnival yet this summer? Tell us all about it below...

August Favorites - Lazy Summer Beauty

I don't know about you, but I get awfully lazy when it comes to beauty in the summer. A hint of sun on the skin and some healthy outdoor living, and I can just about forgo all the fuss so required in greyer months. Hair is left easy and undone - a spritzing of Surf Spray through damp locks leaves my straight, fine locks wavy and tousled with minimum effort. NARS brilliant new tinted moisturizer somehow covers imperfections thoroughly while leaving skin sheer and glowy - with a good helping of SPF included. A slick of juicy, pink Beach Tint dabbed on cheek bones leaves a healthy looking flush, and several lashings of Dr Hauschka's soft and simple mascara is the perfect natural-looking definition for my sensitive eyes. I love the deep shine and Aegean teal hue of Butter London's Slapper on toes - and accept that the name is alarmingly fitting, though somewhat accusatory. Shins and shoulders on show get a golden sheen from a few drops of Huile Prodigieuse, and a dab of Philosykos solid perfume on wrists and neck leave a light, fresh cloud of tart, green fig in your wake. 

How do you pare down your makeup routine in the dog days of summer? Any hero products? Share them below!

Friday Frock

This week's frock isn't the sort of thing I would normally wear - it falls into that rarer category of "wardrobe for the life I wish I led".  Which is a relief, since it's sold out everywhere. I love the heft and detail of the fabric, and the sophisticated, timeless silhouette with its nipped-in waist and slightly longer sleeves. Fresh little details like cheeky pockets and hidden sheer stripes add a little unexpected youthfulness. Very modern day Grace Kelly. Also appropriate for Venetian canal boat chases with James Bond, and/or major art heists. Pair with a posh pair of putty-colored pumps, a classic, structured handbag (Kelly again)  and an expensively disheveled coif.

 

What kind of adventures would you get up to in this fabulous dress? 

 

Dressing Table Dreams

Is there anything lovelier than a mirrored dressing table? I think here in the States we call them vanities, but a childhood spent with too many English novels means they will always be known to me as dressing tables. Regardless of moniker, every girl should have some form of one in her life - whether it's a simple, pretty tray of bottles atop a dresser, or a converted desk and mirror combination, we all need that little place to retreat to and meditate over our lipsticks and perfume. A place where we can be unabashedly feminine for a little bit, and add a little ritual into the day. A temple of pretty things and quietness in a loud and busy world - and no more sitting cross-legged in the sink to apply your mascara. What's your dream table? I'll take any and all of these beauties....

photos via Pinterest

Gorgeous Getaway - Ca Maria Adele, Venice

I know it's the fashionable thing to absolutely hate Venice - the crowds, the smell, the very difficultness of it all - but I can't help myself. I'm just not very cool - I love it. Granted I've never been in the high season - my memories of the city are early, misty winter mornings and empty, snaking alleyways. Pink, Turner-esque sunsets setting the city aglow in the evenings until a dense, chilling fog settles over the lagoon. See how ridiculous it makes me sound? That's Venice - it is ridiculous, and you have to just embrace the sinking, sea-soaked, sordid mess of it all and be overcome with the sheer weight of history and intrigue around every corner.

It may be a circle of hell in high summer, but I think in late January it's utterly magical, a place outside of time, to escape and hide out for a few days in a fantasy of gilded opulence. And next time I visit, I'm more than a little tempted to stay here...

...In the hotel Ca Maria Adele, a stylishly re-imagined 16th century palazzo in central but civilised Dorsoduro.

I can't say that this whole place doesn't terrify me slightly. Well, more than slightly. You just know there's a dwarf in that red bedroom waiting to jump out and stab someone. Also that doge fellow on the wall is clearly up to no good. But who cares! It's so ridiculously dark and opulent, so unabashedly straight out of the Venice of the imagination, that I think it's fabulous. Look at all those dark corners and shadow-throwing lights!  It looks incredible - though I'm sure a weekend would be plenty of time to enjoy its charms. Any longer and you'd need to recover with a long respite somewhere bright white and minimalist to cleanse the senses of all that velvet.


top photo via pinterest

Friday Frock

Oh those ancient Greeks. Say what you like, they knew how to drape. There's nothing I love more than this goddess-style cut - particularly when it's executed as beautifully as on this week's frock. Why do we bother with shifts and maxis, wraps and sheaths, when there's the option of looking like you've just sprung, resplendent and immortal, from the sea's pale, aqua foam? Also suitable for summer wedding's, rooftop cocktails and other mere mortal events.

Pair with metallic accessories, luminous skin and a messily braided updo, and try to avoid launching a thousand ships while at the bar.

Popsicle Pretty

I'm not particularly brave about wearing bright makeup, but something about a sunkissed complexion peering back from the mirror gives me the sudden urge to play with popsicle hues. Healthy, glowing skin and the golden summer light are the perfect accompaniments to an unexpected and flattering pop of color. I like to dip my toes into the look with candy-colored and neon nails, a flick of aqua liner or a flush of dewy, artificial cherry on cheeks.  Sugary, saturated shades sheered onto lips leave a bright, cool translucence - just like the soft, colorful stain left behind by an icy, frozen treat.

1) Thakoon for NARS Nail Polish

2) Clarin's Instant Smooth Crystal Lip Balm

3)Make Up For Ever Aqua Eyes Liner

4) Tarte Natural Cheek Stain

5) NARS Soft Touch Shadow Pencil

6) Illamasqua Intense Lip Gloss

How are you playing with color this summer?

Lazy Links

Goodness that was a hot spell. The only cool place in the house was the tiny bathroom, which is so small and dark that the air conditioning was almost effective. Surely I can't be the only person who spent their weekend reading while sitting on the ground next to a toilet?


Anyway, it's crisp and cool again now, so let's get back into the swing of things with a leisurely wander round some lovely little stories and items that caught our eye this week...


Margherita Missoni got hitched in the most DIVINE dress. By Giambattista Valli. Snap. 


Lets take a stroll through the 25 most beautiful public libraries in the world. The one in Alexandria looks like the perfect setting for a Young Adult adventure novel concerning time-travel and intrigue. Magical ancient texts should figure heavily. 


And our love affair with embellished shorts continues...


Go Fug Yourself takes us through the best of Ascot crackpottery, and it's fabulous. You know we can't resist a wacky hat.


These rooms from above are strangely fascinating, and for some reason make us want to pull out our old dollhouse again and start arranging the tiny furniture...


A Model Recommends is giving away a luxurious NEOM Organics gift set. If you haven't experienced the indulgence that is NEOM bath oils and candles, remedy that immediately by entering.


Because lime and rum-drenched sponge topped with minty frosting always deserves a mention- Domestic Sluttery’s Mojito Cake.


How beautiful are these portraits of Senior Dogs Across America? And is there anything more loving and dignified than the graying face of an old dog? We think not.


Our new favorite read is the lovely blog Swedish Love Affair - especially the brilliant post outlining the complex mindgames of going on a date, Scandinavian-style:)


Remember to follow along this month, as we've got bushels of gorgey products, skincare and scents to discuss, daring dresses, summer style and basically, lots of lovely little things. Also a FABULOUS giveaway to say thank you for sticking around while the Blossom Shed went bunburying for absolutely ages.


photo via pinterest

Gorgeous Getaway - ACE Hotel, Palm Springs

We're staying in the desert for this week's Gorgeous Getaway, with a trip to the wonderful ACE Hotel in Palm Springs.

Just a few minutes walk from downtown, set against the backdrop of the barren San Jacinto mountains and the big, brilliantly blue desert sky, the ACE Hotel is the desert motel of your dreams. A tired old Howard Johnson's was stripped down and re-imagined as a casual and chic getaway - from the breezy, whitewashed rooms hung with canvas drapes, to the sunsoaked terraces, retro pool and bar area, laid-back natural spa and deconstructed, 60's style diner serving delicious locally grown delicacies. The whole feeling is very chilled out, sunwashed and effortlessly cool.

I love the perfect little touches, like the soft, fluffy white beds and louver panelling in the rooms, the outdoor fireplaces scattered around the pool area for cool nights, the fleet of retro bikes for touring the area, and of course the fact that you can bring your dog - one of my top priorities. Reclining on a sun lounger with a good book and tiny bikini is so much nicer with your best friend draped across your feet.

If there's one (tiny) downside to all this cool, clever style, it's that the crowd can sometimes run into the trust-fund hipster vein, so be warned if you have a short fuse when it comes to ironic headwear. One morning at breakfast in the fabulous diner, a twenty-something fellow shuffled in wearing a grotty, artfully disheveled caftan,  morose-looking model in tow. Reclining languidly at his corner table, he perused the stocks page of the Wall Street Journal and sipped coffee in silence across from the bored and hungry-looking girlfriend. Most days, it would have been a struggle for me to keep from throwing a bread roll at the back of his head and shouting "Get a job!" Yet my french toast was so delicious, the coffee so divine, everything bathed in such a bright, clear desert light, that even I looked on the world of slumming hipsters with a more tolerant slant on that glorious weekend....

Have you ever seen a desert sunset? What's your favorite, easy, weekend getaway where you can relax and recharge? Are you allergic to hipsters? Share your thoughts below!